A NIGHTMARE neighbour has been handed a suspended prison sentence for perjury after falsely claiming that she was unaware of a Community Protection Notice prosecution against her.

Jamie McPherson, formerly of Stuart Terrace, in Felling, Gateshead, was prosecuted in March 2019 for failing to comply with a community protection notice served on her by Gateshead Council.

McPherson was served with the notice for repeatedly playing loud music late at night and into the early hours of the morning.

Visitors to her property also caused disturbances, as well as being threatening and verbally abusive to her neighbours.

McPherson was summoned to appear before Gateshead Magistrates’ Court for failing to comply with the Community Protection Notice.

She didn’t attend court and the case was heard in her absence.

The matter was proven in her absence and McPherson was fined £660 and was made to pay a £60 victim surcharge and £300 costs.

In July 2019, McPherson made a statutory declaration stating, on oath, that she was unaware of the prosecution brought by Gateshead Council and that she had never received the summons issued to her.

The result of making such a declaration was that both the conviction against her and the sentence passed were rescinded.

Gateshead Council, however, were able to show that McPherson acknowledged receipt of the summons by contacting a council officer within the private sector housing team.

The council were also able to show that McPherson had provided a false address to the court whilst making the statutory declaration.

The authority summoned McPherson again for breaching the Community Protection Notice and for perjury after attempting to convince the court that she was unaware of the case against her and also for providing false address details to the court.

McPherson appeared before Newcastle Crown Court in July 2020 where she pleaded guilty to both matters.

In December McPherson was sentenced to eight months imprisonment suspended for 18 months for the offence of perjury and for breaching the Community Protection Notice she was fined £200 with a sentence of seven days imprisonment should she default on payment. McPherson was also ordered to pay costs of £300.

Councillor Angela Douglas, chair of the Gateshead community safety board, said: “Residents have a right to live peacefully in their homes, free from unreasonable noise, disturbances and abuse from their neighbours.

“There are processes and laws in place to protect people which must be respected.

“This woman showed little regard for her neighbours, the council or the judicial system by lying under oath.

“I’m pleased that in these circumstances, the magistrates have taken such a firm stance.”